Tampa’s First Better Block Hopes To Revitalize Underused Corridor

In its inaugural Better Block, The Tampa Heights Civic Association, Congress for New Urbanism, and Urban Charette are teaming up to bring a historic block on Franklin Street back into the city’s focus. The project will take place on Saturday, January 10th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Franklin Street between 1-275 and Henderson Avenue.

“By bringing Better Block to Tampa Heights, we will simulate what a thriving and lively corridor would look like on Franklin Street,” said Brian Seel, president of the Tampa Height Civic Association Board. “The block is part of a Tampa neighborhood where we are starting to see urbanization. Our project builds on this momentum and gives the community a voice in the development of Franklin Street.”

Using Better Block’s principle of creating small-scale, short-term improvements to encourage lasting change and bringing the community together to build and improve their neighborhood, the group hopes to transform the block into Tampa’s “Yellow Brick Row.” The event will feature local vendors, retailers and residents hosting pop-up storefronts, local breweries will be offering beer samples, and the street will be reimagined with Cuban art and music, parklets, street art and entertainment for the one-day demonstration.

Earlier this year, Tampa Heights neighborhood members participated in a visioning exercise with the CNU, sharing their preferences and desires for the future of historic Franklin Street, and the Better Block is the group’s opportunity to see their ideas in action.